For those laid off from USAID, new job resources are plentiful

In the weeks since U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration began dismantling the country’s foreign aid department, thousands of staff have lost their jobs or been put on administrative leave, the majority of their projects and programs no longer deemed in line with the United States’ more domestic focus. And that’s just the USAID jobs — thousands more work for contractors and organizations that depended on USAID for funding, and have found themselves laid off or furloughed. But the international development and aid community has stepped up, supporting fellow sector professionals with online events and emergency funds, jobs lists, and free advice. “Our sector has always had a familial feel, and when challenges present themselves, which they have in various ways over the years — wars, natural disasters, COVID-19, and shifts in resources — individuals and organizations find a way to step up,” Joanne Sonenshine, a funding adviser to corporate sustainability leaders, told Devex in an email. “In this particular case, we’re seeing people from all over the world doing whatever they can to help.” Sonenshine herself has compiled a spreadsheet listing the profiles of over 1,400 job seekers and more than 300 open positions. She’s not the only one. LinkedIn, for many in the sector, has become a hub offering free coaching calls, job postings, virtual happy hours, and advice, as people attempt to retain USAID talent within the sector. The potential problem, said Colin Steele, who called the Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service immediately after hearing about the USAID stop-work orders in January and offered to help alumni as a career coach, is that the abundance of resources can be overwhelming and hard to sift through. “I imagine it could be difficult for people to navigate the many, many different resources that are popping up,” he said. With that in mind, Devex asked career coaches and experts in the space which resources they believe to be the most useful right now. Federal funding As federal employees of the U.S., there are certain benefits and resources laid-off USAID workers are able to tap into. One, created by the U.S. Department of Labor, is the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees. The eligibility requirements differ by state but it provides weekly compensation to those made redundant, helping in the short term to ease some of the financial stress of sudden job loss. The U.S. Employee Assistance Program offers career advice, mental health counseling, and financial guidance. “Federal employees can find support through specialized communities and networks that assist with career transitions. By remaining connected and utilizing these resources you can create significant progress toward discovering your next career move,” said Jennifer Han, chief human resources officer at Academized.com, citing sites such as Fed Layoffs as well as state-level hiring drives. Additionally, state employees can access layoff loans through the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund and state-dependent unemployment benefits via the state. Access to more financing can reduce the immediate impulse to panic-search. “If you’ve got a little bit longer than six months, you have a little more breathing room to think about how you want to go about your career change or career pivot,” said social impact career coach Stephanie Mansueto, who also posts weekly job roundups for high-paying senior social impact roles on her LinkedIn page. Sector-specific experts In the weeks since the layoffs began, certain figures in the space have become reliable sources of information, blending their own curated lists of social impact organizations currently hiring along with tangible advice for navigating this time. Among the experts cited to Devex is Nick Martin, Columbia University professor and CEO of TechChange — as well as TechChange’s job roundups. Others include co-founder of Kurante Consulting Wayan Vota, who runs The Career Pivot newsletter; social impact coach and consultant Kelsi Kriitmaa, who is hosting free monthly career reset events; and social entrepreneur Craig Zelizer, who is tracking the job losses and changes. Artificial intelligence This one may seem counterintuitive given the anxiety many have around AI as a potential job threat in the development space. But, in this case, Jeremy Schifeling, career development speaker and author, believes it can be a huge resource to those affected by the redundancies. Rather than using it to write cover letters though, he recommended it be used to understand what’s possible in terms of next opportunities. “Especially with tools like ChatGPT, you can literally go into them and say, ‘hey, I’m a highly collaborative, cross-cultural leader. I have experience with project management [and] data analysis. What 10 roles match those skills and still give me a chance to drive social impact?” said Schifeling. The list this generates — which includes roles such as a corporate social responsibility manager, public policy analyst, and health program manager — can then be used as a starting-off point as people navigate which subsector to transition to next. It can generate ideas people hadn’t thought about before, Schifeling added. Alumni networks This is also a good time to tap into existing networks, said Schifeling, for connections, job recommendations, and company insights. Several foreign service feeder schools have already stepped up to support former students. The University of Denver, for example, is hosting a series of practical events on goal setting and resume reviewing, while at Georgetown University, Steele is leading structured networking calls, or “reciprocity rings,” where attendees introduce themselves and say what they need right now. Others then offer ideas, resources, and connections. “Our job is to help create the conditions in which you, as alumni, professionals, and peers can help each other,” said Steele. Schifeling recommended using the LinkedIn alumni tool to discover university alumni working at an organization you would also like to work for. “These are the people who could tell you about the job and potentially even refer you,” he said. That same tool can be used to reveal other former USAID or U.S. State Department staffers who have since moved into new roles. “[These people] will understand the pain that you're going through right now. They are in the best position to help you do something about it. I think that's a powerful alumni network that a lot of people don't always think about,” said Schifeling. USAID layoff specific sites One resource that sprung up in the immediate aftermath of the USAID funding freeze is USAID Stop-Work, which is less centered on helping people find new positions but creating an outlet for action and community. Run by Molloy Consultants, the website lists confirmed jobs lost from both USAID and its implementing partners, but also offers advice for taking action against the issue as a whole. There is a script for what to say to a state representative to lodge complaints, information on rallies to push for change, and petitions to sign. “[It] has also been a great resource according to clients who are impacted by the cuts,” said Julia Firestone, a social impact career coach and strategist who is hosting monthly virtual gatherings for meditation and support. Another website that has emerged is the USAID Resource Hub. Volunteer-run, it lists various online events being held across the sector to give practical advice on navigating the transition as well as job opportunities and places to go for legal and financial advice. The ICVA Network has also created a new webpage to provide “snapshots” of how the cuts are playing out in different countries whilst compiling executive orders and latest announcements. “The reality is people who are working at USAID have overcome a million challenges in their day jobs, whether it’s challenges on the ground, with government, or with regulations,” said Schifeling. “So in some ways this is just one more little brick wall on their way and I really do believe they can break through.” For more job opportunities and resources, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn, and sign up to our Career Hub newsletter in which we curate weekly top opportunities posted on the Devex job board — the world’s largest global development job board.